Liquid treating apparatus



July 2,1940. v P .GRAY- 2,206,089

' LIQUID TREATING M PARATUS Filed Aug. 1o, 1938 (Ittorneg Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 2,206,089 'Y i,

LIQUIDI TREATING APPARATUS Lyndon P. Gray, Kansas City, AM0. Application August 10, 193s, serial No. 224,055

5 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in liquid treating apparatus, such as treating hard water with a water softening liquid to soften the water; treating water with aquaammonia for use as a fertilizer; or treating water with a sterilizing liquid, as creosote; or of utilizing alone a treating liquid for various purposes.

The object of my invention is the provision of a novel apparatus of the kind described, which is simple in structure, which will feed the treating liquid into the flowing stream to be treated, from a container holding the treating liquid, in the proper pro-portions; which utilizes the pressure of the flowing liquid to be treated for feeding the treating liquid from its container; which can be easily and quickly replenished with the treating liquid; which provides means for observation as to the amount of discharge from the container ofthe treating liquid, and also of its purity; and which is eicient in its operation.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates my invention,

Fig. 1 is a side View, partly in vertical section, of one form of my invention which employs a piston for forcing the treating liquid from the container therefor.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification in which the piston and its lifting spring are eliminated.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the piston, with the packing omitted.

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly broken away, of what is shown in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2'.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

I designates the body of a liquid container comprising a closed tank having a removable cover 2 fastened by bolts 3 to the upper end of the tank body I, and having a threaded inlet 4, the bottom of the body I having a threaded outlet 5. The cover 2 is provided with an exhaust cock 6 for the escape of fluid. The bottom of the body I is provided with a drain cock 1.

For supplying the tank with treating liquid, a right angled filling tube 8 has one end threaded and fitted in a threaded hole in the side ofthe body I a short distance below the cover 2. The other and upper end of the tube 8 has tted therein a screw plug 9.

In the threaded inlet 4 is fitted one end of a branch conduit IIJ which includes a regulating valve II. In the threaded outlet 5 is fitted one end of another branch conduit I2, which includes or window I4 through which can be seen the treating liquid as it passes through the branch I2. When the valve I3 is open and no'liquid can be seen passing by the window I4, it indicates that the tank is empty and needs refilling. Also the color of the liquid'can be observed through the window I4, to determine as to its contamination. i

In so far as has been described, the foregoin description'applies to both forms of the invention.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a conduit constituting piping I5 having at its upper end an intake portion I 6, shown broken away, but which is connected with a sourceof fluid supply under pressure, not shown, but which may be a house Water supply system, when the water therein lis to be softened. Or it may be a steam boiler, when only pressure is desiredto feed the treating liquid fromv the tank I.

The branch conduit I is connected to the conduit I adjacent to the intake I6, and the conduit branch I2 is connected to the conduit I5 at a greater distance from the intake I6 than the branch I0.

The conduit I5 includes between the branche IIJ and I2 a shut off valve I1.

Reciprocative in the tank body I, Fig. 1, is 'a piston I 8 which has a peripheral annular packing` I9 tted in an annular groove 20 to make the piston tightly tting in the tank'body I, which is cylindrical. An upwardly tapering coil spring 2| having its lower end mounted on the upper side of the bottom of the tank body I, has its reduced upper end bearing against the under side of the piston I8. Thespring 2I serves as a yielding means which normally forces the piston I8 to its uppermost position, shown in Fig. l, in which position, the piston is above the lower discharge end of the filling tube 8, thus permitting treating lliquid to be poured into the tank body I, when needed, and the screw plug 9 has been removed from the tube 8.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the tank body, I is provided just below the piston I 8, when the latter is in the uppermost position shown, an air discharge cock 22.

In the operation of the form shown in Fig. 1, when hard Water flowing through the conduit I5 is to be softened, the cocks 6 and l, shown open, in Fig. l, are closed, as are the valves II and I3, the cock 22 being left open, as it is shown,r The screw plug 9 is removed, and the treating liquid, which for water softening, may be water softentank i to be used as desired.

.' in the form shown in Fig. 2, the piston ing liquids such as are on the market and are commercially known as spuds or super puro, or any other suitable water softener liquid, preferably one having a vegetable base, is poured into the tank I through the tube 8.

The plug 9 is then replaced and the cock 22 closed. The shut olf valve I'I is opened to permit the hard water to flow from the source of supply through the conduit I5. 'I'he valve II is opened to permit water under pressure passing through the branch conduit I0 through the inlet 4 into the tank I above the piston I8, which is forced downwardly by the water pressure above, and, when the valve I3 is opened, the treating liquid will pass from the tank I through the branch conduit I2 into the conduit I5, in which the treating liquid will mix with the hard water flowing through the conduit, thereby softening the water.

The proportion of softening liquid thus fed from the tank I into the conduit I5 will be small relative to the volume of water with which it is mixed, and this proportion is determined by the adjustment of the valve I3.

As the softening liquid is discharged from the tank I through the branch I2, the liquid and piston IB will lower in the tank I By observing the fiow through the branch I2 by looking through the window I4, it can be determined how fast is the flow, and also when the flowstops, and the tank needs refilling with the treating liquid.

When the tank is to be refilled, the valves II and I3 are closed, the cocks Ii and 22 opened, and the screw plug 9 removed. The spring 2l will then force the piston I8 to the uppermost position, shown in Fig. 1. The tank may then be refilled, and the operation above described repeated.

When it is desired to discharge a treating liquid from the tank I, through the branch I2 and out of the conduit i5, without mixing fluid from the conduit, as steam or water being fed into the conduit I5, with the treating fluid, the shut off valve I'I is closed, while the valves Il and I3 are opened, the valve II to permit the fluid under pressure to enter the tank I through the branch Ill, so as to force downwardly the plunger and with it the treating liquid.

The treating liquid, as aqua ammonia for fertilizing soil; creosote, for sterilizing, as for weeds or insects, or a nicotine solution for spraying flowers, as the case may be, may thus be discharged through the conduit I5 from the In case that it is desired to mix water with the treating liquid discharged from the conduit I5, the shut ofi valve I'I may be opened to the position in which the desired proportion of water is mixed with the treating liquid.

The valve I3 will also be adjusted to permit the proper fiow from the tank.

The 'form shown in Fig. 2 corresponds in structure to that shown in Fig 1, excepting that Iii, spring 2i, cock 22, and valve I'i are omitted. In the operation of the form shown in Fig. 2, the fluid water on steam under pressure, is discharged from a conduit I5', corresponding to the conduit I5, excepting for the omission of the valve I'I, through the branch I6, the valve IS being opened, into the upper part of the tank I.

The cocks 6 and 'I are closed, as is the filling tube 8, and the valve I3 is opened to permit the discharge from the tank I through the branch i2 into the conduit I5', of the treating fluid which is in the tank I, the pressure of the fluid entering the tank I through the branch IIJ, serving to force the treating fluid from the tank I, through the branch I2 under pressure.

If the fluid flowing through the conduit I5 is hard water which is to be softened, the treating liquid in the tank I will be a water softening liquid which, mixing with `thehard water flowing through the conduit I5', will soften the hard water.

Due to the relatively small amount of treating liquid discharged from the tank I to soften the hard water, but a small amount of the hard water will enter the tank through the branch ID, relatively to the amount of water softened, but eventually the hard Water entering the tank I, through the branch I, will so dilute the treating liquid, that the latter should be drained from the tank and new treating liquid substituted therefor.

To do this, the draincock 'I is opened, after the valve II and the valve I3 have been closed. The cock 6 is opened, and the screw plug 9 removed from the filling tube 8.

When the liquid has been drained from the tank, the cock 1is closed, and the fresh liquid poured into the tank through the tube 8. When the tank has been filled with the fresh liquid, the plug 9 is replaced, the cock 6 closed, and the valves II and I3 are regulated to effect the proper discharge of the treating liquid through the branch I2 into the conduit I5'.

By observing the color of the liquid passing of the liquid passing through the branch I2 becomes pale, it indicates that the treating liquid has become diluted sufficiently to need draining from the tank.

Other modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims, can be made .T

without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the kind described, a

closed tank having an inlet and an outlet, a i

tightly fitting piston reciprocative in said tank between said inlet and said outlet, yielding means for normally forcing said piston toward said inlet, means independent of said inlet and said outlet for introducing a treating liquid into .1.

said tank between said piston and said outlet, and a conduit having an intake for receiving fluid under pressure and having two branches one of which communicates with said inlet and having a regulating valve, the other branch communicating with said outlet and including a regulating valve and means by which the color of liquid passing through the last named branch may be observed.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed tank having an inlet and an outlet, a tightly fitting piston reciprocative in said tank between said inlet and said outlet, yielding means for normally forcing said piston toward said inlet, means independent of said inlet and said outlet for introducing a treating liquid into said tank between said piston and said outlet, and a conduit having an intake for fluid under pressure and having two branches one of which communicates with said inlet and having a regulating Valve, the other branch communicating with said outlet and including a regulating Valve.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed tank having an inlet and an outlet, a tightly fitting piston reciprocative in said 'tank between said inlet and said outlet, a spring normally forcing said piston toward said inlet, means independent of said inlet and said outlet by which a treating liquid may be introduced into said tank between said piston and said outlet, and a conduit having an intake for uid under pressure and having two branches one of which communicates with said inlet and having a regulating valve, the other branch communieating with said outlet and including a regulating valve and means by which the color of liquid passing through said other branch may be observed.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed tank having an inlet and an outlet, a tightly tting piston reciprocative in said tank between said inlet and said outlet, yielding means normally forcing said piston toward said inlet, means independent of said inlet and said outlet by which a treating liquid may be introduced into said tank between said piston and said outlet, and a conduit having an intake for fluid under pressure and having two branches one of which communicates with said inlet, the other branch communicating with said outlet and including a regulating valve.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed tank having an inlet and an outlet, a tightly itting piston reciprocative in said tank between said inlet and said outlet, yielding means normally forcing said piston toward said inlet, means by which a treating liquid may. be introduced into said tank between said piston and said outlet, a conduit having an intake for fiuid under pressure and having two branches one of which communicates with said inlet, the other branch communicating with said outlet and including a regulating valve, said tank at opposite sides of said piston and outside of the stroke of the latter having two discharge openings separate from said inlet and said outlet, and two shut off valves respectively closing said openings.

LYNDON P. GRAY. 

